Reversible latch.



J. 0. MYHRE. REVERSIBLE LATCH. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 20. 190s.

Patented Dee. 22, 1908.

JACOB O. MYHRE, OF HATTON, `NORTH DAKOTA.

REVERSIBLE LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application filed July 20, 190B. Serial No. 444,442.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J Aeon O. MYHRE, citizen of the United States, residing at Hatton, county of Traill, and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Reversible Latches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a reversible latch, and particularly to a structure where the latch bolt is adapted for reversal in its actuating slide.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction of slide for actuating the latch bolt and of the connection between said slide and bolt comprising a grooved tenon adapted to receive laterally extended hooks from said slide which is provided with a mortise to receive the head l of said tenon.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing z-Figure 1 is a plan of the latch with one side of the casing removed; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of the latch bolt in one position; Fig. 3 is a similar view of said bolt reversed in position; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the latch bolt; Fig. 5 is a similar view of the slide plate, and Fig. 6 is a detail section showing the connection between the bolt and plate.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several views of the drawing.

The numeral 10 designates the lock casing which may be of any desired construction or configuration, and as here shown, the fixed side plate has one edge 11 bent upward and secured to the edge strip 12 at the opposite ends 13 thereof, at which point a front plate 14 is also secured. The edge lstrip 12 is provided at any desired points with the rivet lugs 15 which pass, through the opposite side plates. The casing is also provided with the threaded post 16 into which the holding screw for the removable cover extends, and adjacent to the hub openings in the side walls of the casing a guide post 17 is disposed. The end 18 of this post or elongated projection is disposed so as to bear in contact with the periphery of the latch hub 19 and thus prevent any lateral displacement thereof under tension of the spring or when the handle shank is removed therefrom. i The handle is provided with the usual projections or followers 20 adapted to contact with the laterally disposed hooks 21 carried by the bifurcated portions 22 of the latch plate 23, this plate being accurately guided in its movement by the elongated slot 24 within which the post 17 is disposed. This slide plate 23 is provided at its opposite end with laterally disposed hooks or projections 25 separated from each other to form an intermediate space 26 and flanges 27. A

The plate is provided at the end of the hooks 25 with the mortise 28 which is here shown as rectangular, although it may be of any desii ed configuration to cooperate with the tenon 29 carried by the latch bolt 30. The tenon upon this latch bolt provides grooves 31 into which the flanges 27 extend, while the T-shaped head of the tenon forms flanges at one side of said groove, the inner face 32 of which islongitudinally curved so as to bear against the straight wall of the slide hook and hold it in position frictionally to prevent any movement thereof relative to the slide and to draw the parts into tight contact, while permitting the free intreduction of the tenon into its mortise connection with the hooks 25 of the slide. These hooks extend for the width of the bolt and ride upon the inner face of one side of the lock casing thus su porting the body of the plate at a distance tlierefrom. For the purpose of providing the necessary tension to throw the atch bolt outward a spring 33 is secured to the post 34 of the lock casing, and its free end 35 bears in contact with the tenon 29 of the latch bolt.

The lock casing may, if desired, be provided with any desired form of lock mechanism, for instance, the bolt 36, as shown in Fig. 1 which is provided with the pivoted tumbler 37 normally held by the spring 38 extended therefrom to the post 16. Upon the introduction of the key this tumbler and lock bolt operate in the usual manner.

The operation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description, and it will be seen that the'slide plate will be directly removed from the casing when the latch bolt may be withdrawn and reversed in position for use in either right or left hand fixture as found desirable, when the slide plate may be returned and the grooved mortise andV tenon connection effects` a tight fit between the parts preventing any movement of the bolt upon the slide thus rendering the latch action stiff and steady, as the bolt is brought in contact with the frame liXture. The extended hooks at the end of the slide plate support it out of contact with the casing thus reducing the friction in the movement thereof, while the langes carried by the hooks each enter the grooved tenon secure a contact for the entire width of the bolt and owing to the curved face of one wall of these grooves a tight fit is effected while permitting a ready disengagement of the parts. The provision of the plate with the guide slot connection with the elongated projection extending from the latch hub prevents displacement of the parts when the casing is opened or removed from its handle connection, and also insures an accurate guiding of the bolt and plate in a straight line and relative to the tension of the spring upon the head of the tenon. The invention therefore presents a simple, eihcient and economically constructed form of reversible latch.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. ln a reversible latch, a latch bolt having a tenon provided with a straight angular groove extending completely across one end, and a slide plate provided with laterally extended angular hooks having separated flanges of equal length to the grooves of said tenon and a mortise therein at one end of said hooks to closely lit the head of said tenon. l

2. In a reversible latch, a latch bolt having a grooved angular tenon at one end, a

at one end of said hooks to closely fit the head of said tenon, bifurcated laterally disposed hook portions at one end of said plate,

and a hub having projections to engage said' hooks from the biurcated portions,

3. In a reversible latch, a latch bolt having a grooved tenon at one end, a slide plate provided with laterally extended hooks having flanges to enter the grooves of said tenon and a mortise therein at one, end of said hooks to yreceive the head of said tenon, bifurcated portions at one end of said plate having laterally disposed hooks thereon, a hub having projections to engage said hooks from the bifureated portions, and an elongated guide lug adapted to contact with the periphery of said hub and to enter a slot in said plate. I

4. ln a reversible latch, a slide plate provided with a mortise at one end and laterally disposed separated hooks having straight faces extending therefrom, biurcated hook portions at the opposite end of said plate, and a latch bolt having a grooved tenon with one wall longitudinally curved to coperate with the straight face of said hooks.

In testimony whereof I alhx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB O. MYHRE.

Viitnesses:

CHAs. A. LYCEE, LUCY L. PETERSON. 

